For example, in Washington Heights and Golan Heights, what does “heights” mean? What does it tell us about the place?
It means that area of land is higher then other areas. The Golan heights sits on a plateau above the rest of the surrounding area. Washington heights is named after an old Fort Washington…and the fort was built on top of the highest hill in the area.
That’s certainly where it comes from. It’s not always actually true though. Sometimes someone just liked the name and didn’t even think about what it meant.
It’s like the name Lakeview. I’ve been to more than just a couple places named Lakeview something or another. Streets, towns, apartment complexes. The only thing they all had in common is that not a single one of them had a view of a lake.
I think most of the time it’s just a contrivance to make a place sound fancier. Washington Heights sounds fancier than calling it Washington Drainage Basin. It really doesn’t usually have anything to do with the actual elevation of the property.
Washington Heights in NYC, at any rate, is physically high in elevation, and it’s not a particularly fancy area at all.
